Washing machine



NOV. 18, 1952 K, CLARK y 2,618,141

WASHIG MACHINE Filed April 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 18, 1952 K. CLARK 2,618,141

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IG.2

52 Illlllllllllll` 5o 'l' i 2g I8 Nov. 18, 1952 K. CLARK 2,618,141

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1947 s sheets-sheet 3 745 I 40 56- 6| f l sz-\ FIG. 5

58 E Y FIG. 4 58o Z,

a5 7s J J Patented Nov. 18, 1.952

WASHING MACHINE Kendall Clark, Oakwood, Ohio, usiznor to General Motors Corporation, poration oi' Delaware Dayton, Chio. a cor- Application April 24,1947, Serial No. 743,800

l Claims.

This invention relates to domestic appliances. and more particularly to washing machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a washing machine of simplified form, which is, preferably, automatic in its operation, and which may be built economically.

Further objects'and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of the washing machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of the rotary-reciprocating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section, partly broken away, of the lower portion of the drive means;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a plan view of shown'in Fig. 3.

A washing machine, according to my invention, may include a base I upon which the tub I| is supported by a rotatable shaft construction, such that the tub may gyrate about its support without imparting vibrations to the iioor.

To this end, the base I0 may carry a resiliently mounted thrust bearing I2 carried by a rubberlike washer I3. A pulley drive shaft I4, to which a pulley I is keyed at I6, is mounted and carried by the thrust bearing I2. This pulley drive shaft I4 is keyed to a hollow vertical rotatable shaft I1, which supports the gear casing I8 at its upper end. The gear casing, in turn, supports the tub I I. A vertically reciprocable shaft I9 extends from the gear casing |8, and is secured to an agitator 20 at its upper end. A motor 2| drives the pulley I5, through the medium of belt 22, which is maintained taut, if necessary, by the idler pulley 23, which is suitably spring-pressed by well known spring means not shown. The construction is such that the motor 2| rotates the pulley I5, and the tub I I is rotated along with the agitator 20, under certain conditions, or the tub II is maintained stationary, and the agitator 20 is vertically reciprocated under other conditions. These conditions are determined by the energization or deenergization of the solenoid 24, which raises or lowers the lever 25, to actuate the combined brake and clutch means 26, to select agitaone of the members another of the members 2 tion or rotation, yin a manner to be hereinafter described more fully.

Means are provided to maintain the shaft construction resiliently vertical. To this end, the vertical shaft construction is connected to a spring platform 38. A plurality of springs 3| are connected at one of their ends to the platform 3l. and at the other of their ends to rigid supporting brackets 32 carried by an intermediate water trough 33, secured to the cabinet 34. The cabinet 34 may be a wrapped metal sheet mounted on base I0. The springs 3| have sufficient tension to maintain the shaft construction in a substantially vertical position; but allows gyrations, if necessary.

Damping means are provided, for the shaft construction, in the form of a plurality of snubbers 35, having friction pads 35a, and carried by upwardly stressed leaf springs- 36, secured to the trough 33 by brackets 31. The snubbers 35 have frictional contact with the bottom of the` spring platform 33, and tend to dampen any gyrations set up by unbalance in the clothes within the basket I I.

The gear casing I8 contains a rotary-reciprocating, or back and forth, gear construction to impart the required motion to the shaft I9 and agitator 20. The hollow rotatable shaft I'l carries a beveled gear 40, at its upper end. The gear 40 engages a horizontal axis, beveled gear 4I, which is provided with a Scotch yoke connection with the shaft I9 to impart vertical reciprocation thereto. Ihe shaft I9 has a bearing 43 at the upper end of casing I8, and has a lower extension 44 provided with a bearing 45 within the hollow shaft Il. This maintains alignment of the shaft I9.

The Scotch yoke construction includes a horizontal hollow cylinder 46, secured to shaft I9. within which a solid cylinder 4'| may reciprocate horizontally, and within which a horizontal pin 48 has a bearing connection. The pin 43 is secured to the beveled gear 4I. The beveled gear 4I is carried by the horizontal shaft 49, having bearing 50 formed in the gear casing I8. The shaft 49 is provided with a key and groove construction 5I to prevent axial movement of the shaft 49, and to which access may be had by means of the cover 52 and key retainer plate 52a, held in place by the screws 53. A counterbalance 54 is placed Within the casing I 8, to equalize the weight on each side of the shaft I'|. An oil seal 55 is provided at the upper end of the casing I8.

The beveled gear 40 preferably has an integral extended sleeve 56, which is placed inside of the cylindrical bearing 81, provided with an outward de 88. The flange 88 supports the casing i8, which, in turn, is supported on a washer 88, provided with an inward extension 80, resting on shoulder 82 of shaft I1.

' The bearing 81 is assembled into gear casing I8 from beneath, and has a rubber-like ring 88a to seal the flow of lubricant at this point. The beveled gear 40,'sleeve 85 and washer 59 are assembled from above. and the extension 80 slides down through groove 8| in hollow shaft I1. The gear 40 and sleeve 88 are clamped axially by bearing 48, which has threaded engagement with the shaft I1. A bearing washer 40a may be provided for gear 40 and may be locked thereto at 40h.

The gear pending sleeve 10. This sleeve maybe supported by the funnel 1| secured by screws 12 in the casing I8. The rotatable sleeve 10 carries a thrust bearing 13, which in turn supports the spring platform 30 by means of the cylinder 14 welded thereto. The construction is such that the thrust bearing 13 allows the sleeve 'l0 to turn, while the spring platform 30 remains sta-` tionary.

Oil seals are provided underneath the washer 88. These include a cylindrical'metal washer 18 having sliding sealing surface engagement with metal washer 18. The washer 16 has an extension 11 fitting into groove 18 formed in an otherwise cylindrical cup 18 which is clamped between the casing I8 and the funnel 1|. A

rubber-like seal a is provided for washer 15.`

A bellows rubber-like seal 18a is provided for washer 18.

The combined brake and clutch 28, for selecting agitation or rotation, may include stationary brake plate 80 surrounding the shaft construction. and welded on the base I0. A combined brake and driven clutch disc 8|, having friction surface 8|a, is resiliently carried by the sleeve 10 through the medium of a plurality of spiral springs 82 secured by brackets 83 to the sleeve 10. The disc 8| is normally urged downwardly by springs 82, and normally engages the brake plate 80. An axially movable clutch drive disc 84 is carried by the pulley shaft I4, and is axially movable by the lever` 25, which is pivoted on the pin 85 carried by the brackets 86. The lever is provided with upwardly directed ears 81 which engage the outer ring 88 of the thrust bearing' 89, whose inner ring 90 is secured to the disc 84 through the medium of a sleeve 9| which is vertically slidable on the pulley shaft vI4. The -sleeve 9| is provided with an outward ange 92, which receives the upper side of the disc 84. The lower end of the sleeve 8| is provided with a nut 93 to secure the inner ring 90 of the thrust bearing. The upper end of the flange 32 is forked at 95 to receive the pin 86, which allows axial movement of the sleeve 9| and disc 84, but rotationally locks them to the pulley shaft |4. 'I'he pin 98 also locks the pulley shaft vI4 with the hollow shaft I1. The construction is such that, when the lever 25 is in its lower position, the disc 84 is in its lower dotted line position 84a. When the lever 25 is in its uppermost position, the combined brake and driven clutch disc 8| is in its upper dotted line position 8|b. This provides a resilient rotational drive between the pulley I8. the sleeve 10 and the tub Il, when the lever 25 is in its upper position; and provides a braking action for the sleevev 10 and tub II, while showing rotation of the hollow casing I8 carries a downwardly de-v shaft I1, when the lever 28 is in its lower position. to operate the rotary-reciprocating transmission and agitator 20.

'Ihe tub includes an outer imperforate cup |00 and an inner perforate basket |0I. These are secured together, asby rivets |02. A rubber-like spacer is provided at |03. The outer cup |00 has a central integral funnel |08. to which one end of a flexible bellows |08 is secured. The other end is secured to agitator 28. The bellows |08 prevents the flow of water down shaft I0 into the gear casing.

A cylindrical weight |08 is secured to the tub to reduce the extent of gyration due to unbalanced loads. Iny lieu thereof the tub 8| itself may be made heavy.

The tub Ii is bolted to at |01. The flange |08, of casing I8 extends substantially around the entire circumference and the tub I| is bolted as at |01 throughout the circumference, except at the bearing 50. v

A downwardly extending cylindrical apron |03 is secured to, and depends from, tub It rests over another cylindrical funnel H0, which is welded to water trough 33. The apron |08 and funnel ||0 form a water trap which prevents splashing of water down along the vshaft construction.

When the tub is rotated water is discharged over rim of the tub. The water is collected by trough 33 and iiows down pipe |I2 to pump H3, driven by motor 2|. The pump Hi8 discharges through pipe H6, and a hose, not shown, to a suitable drain or stationary tub.

A timer |I5 may be provided to control the machine. It may be of any well known construction, either electrically or spring driven. For example, it may be a timer as disclosed in Dyer Patent 2,331,897. A connector line IIB may be plugged into any suitable power outlet. 'I'he timer handle ||1 may be operated to start the sequences. Power is distributed from the timer |I5, at correct periods oi time, through lines ||8 to energize the motor 2|, solenoid 24 and water supply, not shown.

In the operation of the machine, clothes "and detergent are placed in tub and the timer ||5 is placed in the starting position. A measured quantity of water is introduced into the tub under the control of the timer, as disclosed in my Patent 2,366,236, to the correct level.

Then the motor is energized to cause the agitator 20 to reciprocate. Thereafter the solenoid 24 is also energized to raise the lever 25 and discs 8| and 84 and to cause the tub to spin. 'I'hereafter the operation is repeated once or a plurality of times with rinse water. The timer then stops after the nal spin operation.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A washing machine comprising: a base; a thrust bearing carried by said base; a pulley drive shaft vertically carried by said thrust bearing; a hollow rotatable shaft secured to and above said pulley shaft; a hollow beveled gear secured to the upper end of said rotatable shaft; a gear casing with a hollow sleeve depending therefrom axially fixed but rotatably carried sby said rotatable shaft; said gear being located in said casing a horizontal axis beveled gear rotatably mounted within said gear casing engaging the the gear casing I8 teeth of said hollow beveled gear, the axis of said horizontal beveled gear being in fixed relation to said gear casing: said horizontal axis beveled gear having an eccentrically locatedbearing, a vertically reciprocable agitator shaft having bearings in said hollow beveled gear and in said gear casing; motion translating means connecting said agitator shaft and said eccentrically located bearing to drive lsaid agitator shaft in a reciprocating motion from the rotary motion of said bearing;

and a brake and clutch connection between said axially fixed but rotatably carried by said rotatable shaft; said gear being located in said casing a horizontal axis beveled gear rotatably mounted within said gear casing engaging the teeth of said hollow beveled gear, the axis of said horizontal beveled gear being in fixed relation to said gear casing; said horizontal axis beveled gear having an eccentrically located bearing, a vertically reciprocable agitator shaft having bearings in said hollow beveled gear and in said gear casing; motion translating means connecting said agitator shaft and said eccentrically located bearing to drive said agitator shaft in a reciprocating motion from the rotary motion of said bearing; a stationary brake plate coaxial with said drive shaft; v a brake and clutch disc resiliently carried by said sleeve and normally engaging said brake plate; and an axially movable clutch drive disc carried by said pulley shaft.

3. A washing machine comprising: a base; a thrust bearing carried by said base; a pulley drive shaft vertically carried by said thrust bearing; a hollow rotatable shaft secured to and above said pulley shaft; a hollow beveled gear secured to the upper end of said rotatable shaft; a gear casing with a hollow sleeve depending therefrom axially fixed but rotatably carried by said rotatable shaft; said gear being located in said casing; a rotatable tub carried -by said gear casing; a vertically recprocable agitator in said tub; a horizontal axis .beveled gear rotatably mounted within said gear casing engaging the teeth of said hollow beveled gear, the axis of said horizontal beveled gear being in fixed relation to said gear casing; said horizontal axis beveled gear having an .eccentrically located bearing, a vertically reciprocable shaft secured to said agitator and having bearings in said hollow beveled gear and in said gear casing; motion translating means connecting said agitator shaft and said eccentrically located bearing to drive said agitator shaft in a reciprocating motion from the rotary motion of said bearing; and a brake and clutch connection between said hollow sleeve and said pulley shaft.

4. A washing machine comprising: a base; a thrust bearing carried by said base; a pulley drive shaft vertically carried by said thrust bearing; a. hollow rotatable shaft secured to and above said pulley shaft; a hollow beveled gear secured to the upper end of said rotatable shaft; a gear casing with a hollow sleeve depending therefrom axially fixed but rotatably carried by said ro- 6 ing; a vertically reciprocable agitator in said tub; a horizontal axis beveled gear rotatably mounted within said gear casing engaging the teeth of said hollow beveled gear, the axis of said horizontal beveled gear being in fixed relation to said gear casing; said horizontal axis beveled gear having an eccentrically located bearing, a vertically reciprocable shaft secured to said agitator and having bearings in said hollow :beveled gear and in said gear casing; motion translating means connecting said agitator shaft and said eccentrically located bearing to drive said agitator shaft in a reciprocating motion from the rotary motion of said bearing; a stationary brake plate coaxial with said drive shaft; a brake and clutch disc 'resiliently carried .by said sleeve and normally engaging said brake plate; and an axially movable clutch drive disc carried by said pulley shaft.

5. A washing machine comprising: a hollow rotatable drive shaft; a gear casing rotatably supported and axially fixed on said drive shaft; a

hollow beveled gear fixed to said drive shaft; said tatable shaft; said gear being located in said casgear being located in said casing; a horizontal axis beveled gear rotatably mounted within said gear casing and engaging the teeth of said hollow beveled gear, the axis of said horizontal .beveled gear being in fixed relation to said gear casing; said horizontal axis beveled gear having an eccentrically located bearing, and a vertically reciprocable shaft having bearings in said gear casing and hollow beveled gear; motion translating means connecting said agitator shaft and said eccentrically located bearing to drive said agitator shaft in a reciprocating motion from the rotary motion of said bearing.

6. A washing machine comprising: a hollow rotatable drive shaft; a gear casing rotatably supported and axially fixed on said drive shaft; a hollow beveled gear fixed to said drive shaft; said gear being located in said casing; a horizontal axis beveled gear rotatably mounted within said gear casing and engagingthe teeth of said hollow beveled gear, the axis of said horizontal beveled gear being in fixed relation to said gear casing; and a vertically reciprocable shaft having bearings in said gear casing and hollow beveled gear and having a Scotch yoke connection with the eccentrically located bearing upon said horizontal axis beveled gear.

KENDALL CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS g Number Name Date 1,096,720 Howery May 12, 1914 1,498,535 Bartholomew June 24, 1924 1,834,829 Ditzler Dec. l, 1931 2,055,041 Miller Sept. 22, 1936 2,313,928 Dyer Mar. 16, 1943 2,331,699 Kirby Oct. 12, 1943 2,331,700 Kirby Oct. 12, 1943 2,331,897 Dyer Oct. 19, 1943 2,346,158 Dyer Apr. 1l, 1944 2,346,669 Dunham Apr. 18, 1944 2,366,236 Clark Jan. 2, 1945 2,392,652 Dyer Jan. 8, 1946 2,396,105 Kirby Mar. 5. 1946 2,411,960 Dyer Dec. 3, 1946 2,482,253 Etten Sept. 20, 1949 

